The Crucible Research Project as your FINAL EXAM
Learning Targets:
 I can integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media as well as in words in order to
address a question.
 I can write informatively to examine and convey complex information clearly.
 I can conduct a short research project to answer questions, including a self-generated question, to demonstrate
understanding of a subject.
 I can use technology to present information, findings, and supporting evidence.
 I can proofread and edit my work for scholarly submission.
In order for us to fully appreciate and understand the events that take place within Arthur Miller’s play The
Crucible, we should understand the history behind the events, characters, and conflicts that exist within the
play. Therefore, in your group, you will research part of the history behind the story and you will be
responsible for presenting this information to the class.
After being assigned a topic, your group is responsible for collaborating to prepare a well-developed
presentation to inform the class on your topic on Monday, December 19th or during your class’s exam
period on Thursday, December 22nd.
The Process:
Step 1: Research Questions with Annotated Bibliography (5- 6 days in the computer lab or with laptops)
 Review each of the bullet points for your topic – divide the questions amongst your group members,
and research on the internet.
 Create a Shared (I suggest Google Docs) Annotated Bibliography (sample on last page of packet).
o One member of your group is responsible for checking in with Mrs. Scheel during conference
or after school tutoring regarding the format and content of the Annotated Bibliography
BEFORE its due date. This member will also submit the group’s Annotated Bibliography to
Turnitin.com by December 13th at 3:30 p.m.
Step 2: PowerPoint/Google Slides or Prezi
 All information is clearly and creatively displayed on a PowerPoint or Prezi
 Answers to the research questions are easily understood/evident
 Any additional, interesting information found through your research is displayed
 Key words/phrases pop out (anything that will help your peers remember and understand the topic
throughout the unit).
 Visuals: At least THREE that are appropriate, relevant, and help to clarify the importance of the
topic.
 Overall appeal: Keep each slide clear and uncluttered. Use a san-serif font. Do not write EVERY
Word that you’ll speak on each slide. (Have Mrs. Scheel review your work prior to presentation)
Step 3: Presentation (Monday, December 19th or during the exam period on Thursday, December 22nd)
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Each group will present the information to the class – all group members are responsible for
presenting. Note: each student must be part of the live, in-class presentation.
Your presentation must:
o Clearly explain your topic
o Address each research question, plus your OWN
o Include a brief Q&A section at the end
o Conclude with brief quiz (more on this element later…)
o Be shared with Mrs. Scheel: [email protected]
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and [email protected]
Guiding Notes/Questions for your research – INCLUDE ONE SELF-GENERATED QUESTION!
Group 1 – Arthur Miller
 Provide Background information
 What are key Events in his life?
 Overview of other works (including Death of a Salesman)
 What are his beliefs/political outlook, including communist connections?
 Describe his arraignment by the House Un-American Activities
 What is the legacy of his play, The Crucible?
Group 2 – Historical Witch Hunts
 What are the causes? Focus on the beliefs of the society and the leading figures
 What are the consequences (both for the individuals accused, the accuser, and
the society)?
 What are some possible ways to have avoided these situations? Be sure your
solutions are applicable to the people at that time and in that situation.
Groups to Consider:
 the Holocaust, Japanese Internment Camps, Segregation, Rwanda
Group 3 – The Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s
 What events led to these trials?
 Who was involved – as prosecutors? Victims?
 What were the outcomes of the trials?
 How do historians interpret these events?
 In what ways were “Witches” persecuted?
Group 4 – McCarthyism and the crack-down on communists in the 1950s
 What was McCarthyism? Who was Joe McCarthy?
 How is Arthur Miller connected to McCarthyism?
 How did McCarthyism change the American lifestyle?
 What were his aims? Methods? Who were his victims?
 What is HUAC and “Blacklisting”? Who were some of the people on “The
Hollywood Blacklist”?
Group 5 – Communism
 What is communism?
 Where did it come from?
 What is the Cold War?
 Who was involved in the Cold War?
 What was the outcome of the Cold War?
 What is the American Communist Party? How did it impact the lives of
Americans?
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Group 6 – Interpreting The Crucible on Stage and Screen:
OPTION A: Play Critic
Your research will be in the form of
articles and interviews related to
performances of The Crucible by
professional companies. You will
also need to watch a stage version of
the play.
o How did the director approach
the staging of the play?
o How did the costumers approach
costume design?
o In what ways was the staging,
lighting, costuming, acting, etc…
effective and even perhaps
ineffective or distracting?
o What other countries have
chosen to produce and perform –
perhaps even adapt - The
Crucible? Why?
o What was effective about the
staging that you watched,
compared to the movie version
we watched in class?
OPTION B: Scene Performance
Your research will be in the form of
articles and interviews related to at least
2 performances of The Crucible by
professional companies. You will need
to watch a professionally produced stage
version of the play.
o How did the taped professional
performance affect YOUR
preparation and acting choices?
o What are the most important
elements of your character?
o How will each actor in the scene
convey their important motivations
and traits?
o What are some of the pitfalls or
problems, potentially, within your
chosen scene?
o Why did you choose to stage your
scene and costume it as you have?
Assessment and Allocation of Points/Grade:
Your perceived and quantifiable work production will play a role in your grade for
this assignment. For instance, if you seem like you are not working and/or you are
just chatting about matters aside from your project, your group (or just you) will lose
points. This is a subjective grade, to an extent, so please use your time in class wisely.
Work Time = 100 points to your Classwork/Homework Grade
Annotated Bibliography = 75 points possible within your Writing Product Grade
Presentation = 200 points = Your Final Exam Grade (ten percent of Sem. Grade)
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RESEARCH and COMPLETION of ANNOTATED Bibliography
1. Research your selected TOPIC:
a. Refrain from Fluff Sources, including Wikipedia, Ask.com, YahooAnswers.com,
quotation sites like BrainyQuote.com, etc…, and look for more valid sources.
b. Be willing to scroll DOWN the page and examine the search options and even
reset your keyword search in order to produce more thought-provoking sources.
2. You will create an ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY and you will need to use
EASYBIB.COM as your primary tool.
a. Collect the links for 5 valid sources on your topic. Paste the site link from the
browser onto a word document and label that link with notes that remind you
of its contents. This is a working document that saves your links and notes.
b. Create a separate document to make your Annotated Bibliography.
c. Refer to the example BELOW for the details and format of each entry.
d. An Annotated Bibliography Entry contains TWO PARTS:
i. The Source Citation which MUST contain all of the information listed
by EasyBib – FILL IN ALL OF THE POSSBILE FIELDS, including the
website address. Research the web page!
ii. Annotated Comments – which is an option on EasyBib.com – simply
type up a short summary as well as the significance, insight and relevance of
the source information in your overall comment. (5-7 sentences each)
iii. Qualify SOURCE: See example.
3. Academic Register: EasyBib.com allows you to Copy/Paste the created-citation to
your document. BUT, the citation STILL needs to be formatted properly.
a. Heading in UR corner: name, date, period, title; SS compressed, right margin
b. After the copy/paste, select “all” and set to: TNR, 12 pt. single-space
compressed and TAB-OUT (See example; use “backspace,” “enter” and “TAB”
buttons for line 2 and just “backspace” and “enter” for additional lines.
c. Annotation should be separated by 1 line and single-spaced.
d. ALPHABETIZE, by first element in the entry, before submitting the document
on Dec. 13th.
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EXAMPLE OF AN ENTRY:
LeMind, Anna. "University of California Scientists: 'Camouflaged' Aliens Live Among
UsAUTHORS." Humans Are Free. Humans Are Free, 21 Nov. 2015. Web. 21 Nov.
2016. <http://humansarefree.com/p/blog-page.html>.
In 2000, a group of California professors postulated that aliens have settled for quite some time
on Earth, living among us to study and collaborate with humanity. They seem camouflaged as
humans and are hard to detect. Some sightings are mentioned, including a spaceship that
crashed on Earth containing the bodies of three aliens in the 1980's. UK scientists rally for
intergalactic meetings to determine intent and future collaboration. We may not be alone in the
universe, and the question remains, Friendly, or not?
Qualify SOURCE: Who? What? Where? When? Bias?
Anna LeMind is a writer on the panel of writers for the Humans Are Free organization. She has
her own website organization and blog called, The Learning Mind, in which she explores
extraterrestrial phenomena as well as spiritual psychology. Her site reaches out to an audience
of deep thinkers who are passionate about releasing their inner potential. LeMind wrote the
cited article in 2015 as a guest writer on Humans Are Free. Her bias seems to regard the
opening of the human mind, higher consciousness and enlightenment from a spiritual and
psychological viewpoint.
So each entry will have the MLA source information (handing indent), followed by 2
paragraphs.
A MINIMUM of 5 ENTRIES in your group’s Annotated Bibliography. The Bibliography is
due earlier than the Presentation. Make sure ONE person from your group submits the
completed Annotated Bibliography to Turnitin.com by 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13th.
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